Chapter 179 : Milestone

Milestone is a free city located in the eastern part of the Maia Kingdom. It's not as big a city as Schirnberg, but it has everything it needs. It has a city wall to block magical beasts, the Sherwood Mercenary Corps' hideout, a delicious restaurant across the street that I used to frequent, and a mercenary guild.

In the old days, there were no city walls or anything, but after the Sherwood Mercenary Corps settled here and gradually began to make a name for themselves, people naturally flocked here and it developed into a city.

It is a place that can truly be called the city of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps. A city that grew with Sherwood.

How much has it changed?

I felt both anticipation and worry at the same time. Because the Sherwood Mercenary Corps had a huge influence on the city, it seemed that the city would have suffered an undeniable blow with the disbandment of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps.

"Isn't this a ghost town?"

With that rather exaggerated thought, I shot my body forward, wrapped in the wind.

I had come to Salos Village by carriage, but that was because the journey was very long. The distance from here to Milestone is very short compared to the distance from Schirnberg to Salos.

A carriage is no match for footsteps over a short distance. No matter how fast a horse runs, can it compare to qinggong?

As my internal energy deepened and the level of my qinggong also rose, not only my speed but also my stamina to run for a long time increased. I haven't run for that long, but I felt like I could probably run all day.

Salos Village was located on a rather high ground, so the road to here was bound to be winding. But since it was okay to just run in a straight line with qinggong, we were descending the mountain faster than anyone else, ignoring the road.

The mountain is faster to descend than to climb. We ran through the forest as if running on flat ground. The lush forest scenery was being pushed back like paint spreading on both sides.

At this speed, I would probably be able to arrive in Milestone while the sun was still in the middle of the sky.

Shall I go to my regular restaurant for lunch for the first time in a long time? Just thinking about it made my mouth water.

I kicked off a branch and called Shushruta.

"Shushruta."

"What."

"Do you like meat?"

"Of course. I am the child of the wolf. I once tore at raw meat with blood on my lips."

"That's good. Lunch is a meat party."

"Oh."

"I know a good restaurant there."

"Slurp. My mouth is already watering."

"I got a lot of money from the leader. Let's eat until our stomachs burst."

"Alright!"

I felt happy just thinking about going back to my hometown after a long time and eating the food of memories that I had shared for a long time.

If Schirnberg is my actual hometown, then Milestone is my spiritual hometown. Because I spent most of my time there.

"Yes. The food there is quite delicious."

At the voice from the side, I turned my gaze and saw a white fox running next to me as if it were nothing.

"What? When?"

Even Shushruta was surprised. That means her footsteps were so stealthy that even Shushruta couldn't detect her presence.

We were by no means running at a slow speed. We were covering the distance quickly at a speed that only the geniuses of qinggong who had become friends with the wind could achieve, but it was strange that this girl was following us so casually, even avoiding Shushruta's hearing.

[Ho. A beast with such movements?]

Even the Heavenly Demon couldn't hold back his admiration.

But as someone who knew her identity, it wasn't that surprising. Just strange.

What on earth brought this girl here? She was a girl who wouldn't leave my sister's side unless she had to.

"Hey. Why are you following me?"

Miho, who had jumped up from a branch to meet my eye level, looked at me with a shameless face.

"Why? Are you complaining?"

"I'm not complaining."

"It's been a series of boredom since you fell from the cliff."

"And?"

"There's no time to be bored when I'm with you. So I'm thinking of enjoying some amusement by following you for a while."

As the mutt fell away, a white fox stuck to me. Is it the way of the world that when one goes, another sticks?

Well, it wasn't bad. She was a reliable force.

"Hmm. Amusement. Then shall we have a race to Milestone?"

At the unexpected proposal, Miho grinned, showing her teeth.

"Are you confident you can keep up?"

It was a contemptuous tone.

"Well, I'll be. Are you ignoring the thieving cat? The fastest cat in the world, that's Shushruta."

"Hmph. That's a fact."

Shushruta raised her nose with a proud expression.

"But you'll have to beat me before you can beat Shushruta. Do you know the legend of the Crimson Flash? You magical beast."

"I'm not a magical beast. I'm a spirit beast."

"Then let's go!"

I shouted the start of the race as a surprise attack and shot forward.

"Ah! That's cheating!"

I heard Shushruta's frustrated cry from behind.

Currently, the genius of qinggong, Shushruta, is faster, but I have no intention of losing. Because I can't lose a competition anyway. I'll take first place even if I have to throw a Night Sky Bomb.

I heard Miho's growling, beautiful voice.

"Huhu. I told you it's fun."

And so, one devil, one cat, and one fox ran towards the city of old memories—Milestone.

***

"Heok... heok..."

I put my hands on my knees and gasped for breath. These monster-like guys.

I had shot out the fastest, but the result was last place. And that was just barely keeping up without being left behind.

First place was the white fox with red fur around its eyes. How can it run so fast with such a small body?

"Not bad. Especially you, Shushruta, you're like the wind brushing against the leaves."

Shushruta, who had arrived in second place, just glared at the winner with a frustrated face, panting.

Miho turned to me arrogantly.

"Ashuban. Your footsteps have also become surprisingly light and swift. Your old self is nowhere to be found. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself."

I kicked away the winner's praise.

"Shut up. I'll beat you next time."

Miho laughed.

"Anytime."

After catching my breath, I finally looked around at the scenery of my spiritual hometown, Milestone.

Buildings with gray stone and red tile roofs were growing harmoniously on the streets. Since it wasn't a planned city, it had a somewhat chaotic aspect, but even that had its own beauty.

I took a deep breath and then shouted.

"I'm back!"

You bastards!

People looked at me as if I were a madman, and then hurried on their way.

Shushruta looked around with a curious expression, and Miho muttered in a nostalgic tone.

"...It's been a while."

The Heavenly Demon was also lost in his thoughts.

[Hmm. This is the place...]

"That's right. This is Milestone. The city that grew with the Sherwood Mercenary Corps. It has its own history."

Miho tilted her head and looked up at me.

"Ashuban. Who are you talking to?"

Shushruta explained instead.

"He's talking to the master named Heavenly Demon who is stuffed in his head."

Miho shook her head.

"His symptoms have gotten worse. Is it because he fell from the cliff? Well. He couldn't have been fine after falling from that Mist Cliff."

It's a relief that she understands on her own.

I let Miho think as she pleased, and then slowly walked the streets of Milestone for the first time in a long time, showing the Heavenly Demon the city. Because my heavenly master likes to see the city.

He didn't say it out loud, but I could tell he was interested. He seemed to be interested in the different appearance from the world he was in.

If I had fallen into the Heavenly Demon's world, I wouldn't have been much different.

I also took in the sight of the city with a new feeling. It hadn't even been a year, but it felt like a very long time.

And so, I walked the streets leisurely, lost in memories... and then stopped in front of a building.

"Sven's Restaurant"

"This place is still the same."

Well, it had only been half a year, so what could have changed much? Half a year is a time when many changes occur for some, but it is not a long enough time for everyone to face a big change.

Anyway, seeing it standing strong just as I remembered, I felt reassured.

I immediately opened the door and went in.

Ting-a-ling—

With the clear sound of a bell, a man's thick voice was heard.

"Welcome!"

I grinned as I saw the figure coming out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron. There was an old acquaintance here too.

He was a middle-aged man with a warm impression and particularly thick eyebrows. He was rather short.

I smiled and greeted him.

"Sven. It's been a while."

"Hmm?"

He looked at me for a moment, and then his eyes widened.

"...Ashuban? Is that you?"

"Who else would it be?"

Sven came over and grabbed my hands with both of his.

"W-what happened? I heard you fell from the Mist Cliff."

"It's nothing. I survived because I'm stronger than the cliff."

"What is that..."

"I'll explain later, so can we eat first? I'm hungry from running for a long time."

Only then did Sven notice Shushruta behind me and guide us to a table.

"Ah, sit wherever you're comfortable."

"And this one is also here, so please give us some raw meat."

Only then did Sven, who had noticed Miho below, brighten up.

"Oh, Miho is here too!"

Miho, who was sniffing, looked up at Sven.

"Nice to see you, owner. Give me some raw liver if you have any."

"Haha, of course. Welcome guests have arrived. Shall I give you what you always have?"

"Yes."

"Just a moment."

Sven smiled brightly and busily went into the kitchen.

Shushruta sat down and looked at me with a puzzled face.

"Ashuban. Do you have standards for being polite? You curse at the Black Prince, but you're so polite to the shop owner."

"Not really. It's just my mood."

"I see."

I sat down and looked around the shop. There were no people in the shop.

Even though it was late afternoon after lunchtime, it was strange. It was a place that was always crowded with customers because the food was delicious.

Even when I was looking around the city, the atmosphere wasn't good. The number of people walking around the streets seemed to have decreased by half, and the people I did see were hurrying their steps with a look of fear, as if someone were chasing them.

The city was not the same as before. It looked gloomy overall.

"Ashuban. I think there's a problem."

Shushruta, who had also sensed something, said to me.

Miho also sniffed and gave her opinion.

"It's different from usual. The whole city smells of fear."

I could just ask Sven. I had come here to eat and to ask about the current state of the city anyway.

A little later, Sven brought out the finished dishes.

"Here, here's the pig's feet."

"Wow..."

I exclaimed in admiration. Pig's feet with steam rising from them.

Usually, you tear at a chicken leg, but here you can tear at a pig's leg.

Since my stomach was screaming from running without a break, I put my curiosity aside for now and put the food in my mouth first.

Sven placed a plate of raw liver in front of Miho and laughed heartily.

"Eat slowly. There's plenty."

Sven, as if he were full just by watching us eat, naturally sat next to us and watched us eat with a pleased smile.

And then he asked why my eyes were red, who the lady next to me was, and how on earth I had survived after falling from the cliff.

I explained roughly while tearing at the pig's feet.

Only after I had filled my stomach to some extent did I regain the leisure to ask Sven various things.

This time, it was my turn.

"Sven. What happened? The atmosphere is different from usual."

Sven began to speak with a bitter expression.

"It started to get strange after you guys left."

Sven looked around once, even though there were no other customers, and then said in a very low tone.

"It's those Starscratcher guys."

"Starscratcher?"

I searched my memory and then it suddenly came to me.

"Those guys. I remember the leader wiped them out once."

"That's right. When Gustan stepped up, they were immediately annihilated. But it seems there were remnants. Those guys started to act up after you guys left this place."

I tilted my head. Because I didn't quite understand.

"Those pathetic guys are acting up? We weren't the only ones here."

The Starscratcher guys weren't a mercenary corps like us, they were just a group of thugs. Very bad quality.

They carried daggers with the ends split into several branches as a mark, and they were called Starscratcher because if you stabbed someone with it, it would leave a star-shaped wound.

If you leave a messy wound like that, it's not easy to treat, and if you get infected, it can even lead to death in severe cases.

These guys are vicious because they move in groups, and if one of them gets hit, they take advantage of the opponent's carelessness and rush in as a surprise attack, stab them, and run away, so they were a real nuisance.

They were despicable guys who even sometimes put poison on the tips, so the leader had stepped up and wiped them out once, but to think that they were still at it.

But if it was just that, other skilled mercenaries would have taken care of them even if the leader didn't step up. Because at best, they were a group of insignificant vagrants who loitered in the back alleys.

But why were such pathetic guys acting up?

"Those guys brought an aura user! A real aura user!"

"...An aura user?"

"Yes. The rumor is that he's a gold-rank mercenary. So the other mercenaries can't do anything. Of course, there were other skilled people besides you guys. A few challenged him, but after agreeing to a one-on-one fight, as soon as they thought they were at a disadvantage, they immediately broke their promise and all rushed in and stabbed them. What despicable guys. So who would stand up to them?"

"Hmm."

Sven looked at me with a serious face.

"Ashuban."

"Yes."

"Do you know what those guys are doing?"

"I don't. Please tell me."

"You know that the Sherwood Mercenary Corps has been officially disbanded, right?"

"Yes."

"Those guys ate the Sherwood Mercenary Corps."

"...Pardon?"

"As soon as you guys left, they went to the mercenary guild and quickly registered a mercenary corps under the name of Sherwood."

I was dumbfounded by the unexpected news.

"What is this..."

"Is that all? You know the building you guys used?"

I narrowed my brow.

"Don't tell me."

"Those guys occupied that place."

"These damn vagrant bastards, how dare they!"

Thump!

I slammed the table and shot up from my seat.

(End of Chapter)

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